Unit counter



United States Patent [72] inventors Robert H. Schnakenberg;

Robert C. Hoffman, Park Ridge, Ill. 21.] Appi. No. 731,347

Filed 1 Feb. 16, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 29, 1070 [7 3] Assignee Victor Comptometer Corporation Chicago, ill. a corporation of Illinois [54] UNIT COUNTER 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 235/6, 235/60 [51] Int. Cl G07g 1/00, G06c 29/00 [50] Field of Search 235/60lC, 6, 144SSM, 144(Spring), 144(P&N)

[5 6} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,550,950 5/1951 Young 235/144X 3,06l,183 10/1962 Jackson et al. 235/60 8/1967 Gruenig et al. 235/60 Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal Att0rney-Gradolph, Love, Rogers & Van Sciver ABSTRACT: A mechanical unit counter suited for use in a cash register includes a plurality of number wheels mounted for rotation about a shaft. The shaft has a longitudinally extending cutoutportion which cooperates with akey incoi porated in the number wheels and biased to bear against the shaft and to enter the cutout. The key and cutout are so shaped as to allow the number wheels to rotate about the shaft during normal counting action but to prevent counter rotation of the wheels, once the key enters the shaft, so that the wheels may be reset by rotating the shaft. Each of the number wheels is coupled to a rachet gear to be driven thereby. Detents for maintaining the gears and thus the wheels in positions corresponding to individual number positions of the number wheels are provided and a pawl unit is provided for advancing the gears and thus the number wheels.

PATENTEU M829 |9m SHIH l U? 4 PATENTEB0&(12919170v SHEET Q 0F 4 lNVENTORS ROBERT C. HOFFMAN ROBERT H.6CHN/1/(ENBERG BY GRADOLP/vj LOVE, RUGERS VA/V 55/1 51? ,4 TTORNE Y5 UNIT COUNTER CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED PATENTS Reference should be had to U.S. Letters Pat. Nos. 3,107,051, dated Oct. 15, 1963 and 3,186,636, dated Jun. 1, 1967.

A number of these counters are disclosed incorporated in a cash register. Two banks of counters, a clerk bank and a department" bank are mounted with a common wheel shaft for each bank. An actuating mechanism for entering a unit on specific ones of the counters in response to the depression of one key in a row of either clerk keys or department keys is disclosed which includes gear segments driven to different angular positions in response to the depression of different ones of a number of keys and a linkage for rotating a selector shaft therefrom. The selector for each bank shaft runs parallel to the bank of counters. Spaced on the shaft are selector discs having annular cutout sections. The cutout, portions are positioned at different angular positions so that only one cutout is positioned to allow an arm coupled to the pawl set of one counter to enter therein. An activating bail may then move the pawl set to enter a unit in that counter.

Further provided is an arrester bail whichv is actuated in response to the absence of any number key, being depressed to prevent entrance of a count in the appropriate counter.

The present invention is directed toward new and improved counters of the mechanical type and toward such counters as incorporated in a cash register.

The counter of the present invention belongs to the general class of mechanical counters employing number wheels and operating to advance the number displayed by the counter in a discreet amount, such as a unit, in response to an activation and is also of the type that alters the amount displayed in only one direction, that is, it only adds or only subtracts, but does not do both.

While the counter of the present invention may have other useful and advantageous applications, it has been found to be specially useful when employed in cash registers. Despite the literal connotation of this term, the modern cash register has advanced far beyond simply registering cash and, in reality, functions as an accounting and record making, keeping, accumulating and totalizing machine. The modern cash register not only functions to add or subtract and record sums but also often functions an in integral part of a business internal and external accounting and auditing systems.

Modern cash registers of this general type are described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,107,051 and 3,186,636.

Such cash registers have, in addition to rows of numeral keys whereby sums are entered, at least one row of symbolic keys which function to control the machine and to enter nonnumeric information into the register. One row of such keys is commonly referred to as the clerk keys and consists of a row of keys having symbols such as A, B, C, etc., one of which is assigned to each of the various clerks that may operate the register. Under this scheme the individual clerk is instructed to depress his or her key when entering a sale. The register printing mechanism then prints out a symbol (e.g. A, B, C, etc.) on the receipt, corresponding to the particular depressed clerk key. Thus, should any question as to the sale arise later, the clerk making the sale may be identified.

Similarly, an additional row of keys, commonly called the department keys, may be incorporated with such designations as grocery," meats," etc. These keys serve to allow designation of the various departments in which an item in a sale may be derived. Other nonnumeric information may be entered by use of keys on the keyboard. The modern cash register's function is to segregate these sums entered with corresponding nonnumeric information in several ways. They may, for example, separately totalize all the sales made in the meat department for a day. This information may be useful for inventory control. Cash registers of this type are flexible and can be adapted for many other specific accounting functions. It should be recognized, however, that these keys are used to identify the inclusion of a sales" tax or the refund on bottles, for example.

One function that is often desired in a cash register is the obtaining the number of sales made by the individual clerks and the number of sales by departments. This information may be desired as an indication as to which clerks are most active in serving and soliciting customers. The obtaining of these totals is one of the applications to which the present invention may be put.

A counter constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of number wheels mounted for rotation about a shaft. Means for advancing the wheels to alter the amount displaced in accordance with a predetermined rule (for example, increasing the number displayed by one) in response to an actuating input are provided. The individual number wheels and the number wheel shaft include means for allowing the advancing of the wheels in accordance with the rule but for keying the wheels and the shaft together when the shaft is rotated so as to align the number wheels and to return them to a home position and alignment (for example, 0000" In accordance with another aspect of the invention a plurality of such counters are provided mounted in a cash register and aligned in a bank with a common number wheel shaft to allow all of the number wheels of the counters of the bank to be returned to their home positions in a single operation of the shaft, The register further includes mechanism for providing an actuating input for each particular counter in response to the depression of a particular information input register key.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in the several FIGS. ofwhich like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional longitudinal view through a cash register incorporating the present invention and illustrating only that much of the machine as is necessary to an understanding of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view with parts omitted and other parts broken away, of the cash register as seen from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of the cash register counter depicted in FIG. 1 showing associated parts as seen from the line 3-3 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from the line 4-4 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a plan view with parts broken away to show interior construction of a bank of counters employed in the cash register as seen from the line 5-5 in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of one counter such as employed in the cash register of FIGS. 15.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is depicted a cash register 10 which is quite similar to that described and shown in the aforementioned US Pat. Nos. 3,107,051 and 3,186,636. The cash register is encased in a housing 14 and includes a plurality of number keys outstanding therefrom arranged in longitudinal rows. There is a set of depressible number keys for each denominal order of the amount to be registered for each item of the various transactions. i

Also provided are a longitudinal row of clerk keys 12. These clerk keys 12 are normally assigned to the clerks, one to each, that may use the register. The clerk depressed his or her particular key when recording a sale. The depression of the particular key may result in the printing of an identifying mark on the receipt printed from the register. This may be done to identify at a later date the clerk who made a particular sale, for example, on the return of the merchandise by the diistomer.

' The register may also be provided with a row of department keys designated, for example, Grocery," Meats," Liquor,"Produce," Sundries," and the like. Other designations such as tax," credit may be included in this row. The register 10 operates in response to the depression of one of these keys in a manner similar to that of the clerk keys to print an indicia on the receipt tape (normally at a place ad- :jacent to the amounts entered) signifying a particular depressed key. In this manner, a tape receipt may be printed in which individual sale items are more easily identified and from which it is easier to reconstruct the transaction.

' The present invention is primarily concerned with the provision of counters that will record the number of transactions of each of these types of transactions. That is, it is concerned with counters that may record the number of sales by each clerk or the number of sales made frornthe grocery or the fproducef etc. departments.

v A conventional visual indicator at the upper part of the housing 14 and a register tape, which may be visible through an opening in the housing 14 may also be provided, as well as the conventional tape which serves as a receipt for the customer. Further provided in the register 10 are longitudinally extending set or row of keys for controlling or selecting certain types of machine operations for transactions such as credit balance, amounts received on account, tax, amount paid out, account forward, amount tendered, and the like.

The register 10 has all of its computing parts housed in the housing 14 above a base 16. A conventional cash drawer (not shown) may be provided below the base 16. The housing 14 includes a generally vertical frontwall 14A which has a plurality of windows 18 formed therein to allow the totals entered on counters to be read from the exterior of the housing 14.

The numeral keys and the clerk keys 12 are mounted between a pair of parallel key support plates 20 and have lower ends 22 which protrude into the interior of the housing.

The department keys are similarly mounted adjacent to the clerk key 12, although they may beofa different design. One of the keys such as the keys 12 of each row may be depressed to have its end 22 protrude further into the interior of the housing than the others of its row. The depressed keys then serve as a stop to limit the movement of a vernier type actuator 26. One actuator 26 is mounted for longitudinal motion below each row of keys and each is coupled by a crossover plate 27 and pin 28 to a rack member 30 by means of which amount are entered into an accumulator 24 and a printing mechanism is set to print indicated amounts and symbols on a paper tape in a known manner. Each ofthe rack members is provided with downward facing rack 32 at the front end. The rack 32 controls the entry of items into a distribution accumulator and associated mechanism, generally designated 40.

iThe rack members 30 also each includean upward facing rack 34 rearward of the rack 32. The rack 34 meshes with a pinion 36 which is mounted for free rotation about a fixed shaft 38. Also mounted for rotation about the shaft 38 is a gear 42. which is affixed to the pinion 36 so that rotation of the pinion 36 by the rack 34 also rotates the gear 42.

The gear 42 meshes with and drives a second gear 44. The gear 44 is mounted for free revolution about a fixed shaft 46. A series of concentric tubes 48 are mounted between the shaft 46 and the gear 44 for reasons explained in the above mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,186,636. The gear 46 functions to transfer its rotational motion to a gear sector 50C which is pivotally affixed at a fixed pivot shaft 52.

1 As mentioned above, each of the denominal order row of the numerical keys as well as the clerk key 12 row and the departmental key row has an actuator 26 and rack member 30 associated therewith. Each of these rows further has a rack and pinion-gear train similar to that of rack 34, pinion 36, gear 42 (all of which are mounted on shaft 36), gear 44 and a gear segment, such as the clerk gear segment 50C. Through this chain of parts the information put into theregistcr 10 by the punching of the keys, such as the clerk keys 12, is transferred into pivotal displacement of the gear sectors such as 50C. Thus, the gear sector 50C pivotal displacement about the pivot shaft 52 is indicative of which clerk key 12 has been pushed. The pivotal displacement of the'other gear sectors 50 such as the department gear sector 50D (FIG. 2) would be indicative of the key, if any, punched in the associated row of keys. The register 10, among other conventional parts, in cludes a main power or operating shaft 35 and a secondary main shaft 37 both of which oscillate about their central axes first counterclockwise and then clockwise (as seen in FIG. 1) approximately 100 for every operating cycle of the register 10.

In accordance with the present invention, the register 10 is provided with a plurality of counters 60 arranged in a row to display the amounts recorded thereon through the windows 18 on the front wall 14A and operating mechanisms for selecting. and for actuating individual ones of the counters 60 in response to the status of the keys, such as the keys 12, during operating cycles of the register 10.

Another aspect of the invention involves provision of arresting means for arresting the activation of a counter 60 under certain circumstances, even though it was selected to be actuated by, for example, the depression of a particular clerk key 12.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the counters 60 are divided into two banks, a clerk bank C and a department bank D. Both banks C and D lie transversely disposed across the front of the register 10 adjacent to wall 14A and are thus end adjacent to one another.

As may best be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, two gear sectors 50C and 50D of the gear sector bank 50 are provided with finger extensions such as finger 62 from which a pin 64 outstands for seating in a yoke 66 of rack slides 68C and 68D.

The gear sector 50D is linked to the departmental input key row in a manner similar to that of the gear sector 50C so that its angular position is representative of which departmental key has been depressed.

The rack slides 68C and 68D extend longitudinally toward the counters 60 at the front of the register 10. The rack slides 68C and 68D have a pair of horizontal guide channels 71 and 72 formed therein for receiving guide pins 73 and 74, rigidly affixed to a central plate 75 as best seen in FIG. 2. The rack slides 68C and 68D each have an upward facing rack 76C and 76D located at the extreme forward ends. The racks 76C and 76D respectively mesh with pinions 70C and 70D. These pinions 70C and 70D may be formed of a plurality of pins equally spaced about a circle and supported between a pair of discs. Each of the pinions 70C and 70D are respectively affixed to a square shaft 78C and 78D. The shafts 78C and 78D are supported at their respective ends for rotation. The shaft 78C, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a bearing 79 supported by a conventional support 80 affixed to the plate 75. A similar bearing 81 is provided at the opposite extreme end of the shaft 78C for allowing the free rotation thereof in response to the movement of the pinion 70C. The shafts 78C and 78D, as well as the pinions 78C and 78D, to which they are respectively at-- tached, each rotate independently of the other, in response to the positioning of the rack members 68C or 68D. Each shaft 78C and 78D has an independent control function over the clerk bank C and the department bank D of counters 60. As the functioning of this control function over the counters is identical for each of the shafts 78C and 7 8D, only that of 7 8C will be considered in detail, it being understood that the functioning of the shaft 78D and its associate mechanism is identical.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of selector discs 82 are positioned at spaced intervals along the shaft 78C ad jacent of the individual one of the counter 60. These selector discs 82 have a hub portion 83 with a hole 84 therethrough for receiving the shaft 78C. The hole 84 is formed to allow the discs 82 to be inserted in any of a number of angular positions thereabout. Extending from the hub portion is the major disc portion which includes a radial sectional cutout portion 85. This configuration of the selector discs 82 allow them to be fitted on the shaft 78C with the cutout portions 85 at different angular positions thereabout. The particular disc 82 depicted, has a radial cutout of approximately 24 and a multifit hole 84 which allows for 30 different positions for the disc 82 relative to the shaft 78C. E

As best shown in FIG. 3, each of the counte' s 60 has an outstanding arm 90A of a member 90 which has a bearing portion 92 which bears against the outer surface of the outstanding disc portion of the selector discs 82 and which may enter the cutout portion 85 when the disc 82 is rotated by the shaft 78 to have the cutout portion 85 located under the bearing portion 92. When this occurs the arm 90A moves downward into the cutout 85 and the member 90 is pivoted to a position to allow the actuation of the counter 60. The count" or entry of a unit into the counter 60 selected is done by means of an actuating bail driven in a manner to be explained in more detail below.

The counter 60 includes a pair of generally vertical sidewalls 93 and 94, which form part of the supporting frame for the counter 60 and are best depicted in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6. Situatedadjacent to one another between the'sidewalls 93 and 94 are four number wheels 95. Each of these disc-shaped number wheels has an outer rim about which equally spaced indicia O to 9 are inscribed. Between the spaced indicia are cutout portions 96 which are equally spaced about the rim of the number wheel 95 to effectively convert the wheel 95 into a gear. Each of the four number wheels 95 of each counter 60 is seated on a shaft 98C which passes between the walls 94 and 93.

A spacer or washer 9 may also be mounted on shaft 98C between sidewalls 93 and 94 to insure "proper positioning of the wheels 95.

Meshing with the cutout portions 96 of the number wheels 95 is a combination rachet gear 100. The rachet gear 100 has ten outstanding teeth 101 for meshing in the cutout portions 96. The combination rachet gear 100 is formed in two sections which are bound together: a gear section, including the outstanding teeth 101 and a rachet section having a plurality of ratchet teeth 102. The rachet section including the teeth 102 is of smaller diameter than the gear section so as to not interfere with the meshing of the gear teeth 10] with the wheel 95. There are four rachet gears 100 each functioning to rotate the meshing wheel 95. These rachet gears 100 are mounted for free rotation about a common axis on a shaft 104. The shaft 104 is parallel to the wheel shaft 98C and extends between the sidewalls 93 and 94 and is affixed at its extreme ends thereto. Thus each counter 60 has one rachet gear shaft 104 while all the counters 60 of bank C have a common wheel shaft 98C.

' The rachet portion of the rachet gear 100 has a deep cutout portion 105 which cooperates with the pawl fingers of a pawl set 108 to advance the higher order number wheels one unit for each 10 advances of the next lower order wheel. The set of four rachet ratchet gears 100 are driven by the single pawl set 108. The pawl set 108 includes four adjacent pawl fingers 109, 110, 111, and 112. The first pawl finger 109 is the longest, the next pawl finger 110 is slightly shorter than the pawl finger 109. The next pawl finger 111 is still a shorter finger than pawl finger 110 while pawl finger 112 is still shorter yet. Each of the pawl fingers 109-112 are spaced apart so as to allow the gear portion of rachet gears 100 to pass between them and to make contact with the teeth 102 of rachet portions of the rachet gears 100. To this end, the set 108 has'a pair of spaced mounting legs through which it is mounted for pivotal motion about a shaft 115 mounted parallel to the shaft 104 of the rachet gears 100. The cutout portions 105 are sized so as to receive the longest pawl finger 109 therein.

The pawl set 108 is mounted about its shaft 115 between side flanges of a support bracket 118. The bracket side flanges extend on each side of the four gears 100 and form pivotal mounts that join the bracket 118 and the pawl set 108 that it carries to the shaft 104. The bracket 118 is thus mounted so as to allow pivotal motion about the shaft 104 of the pawl set 108. A spring 116 is provided coiled about the shaft and having two biasing arms 117 and 120 extending from the ends thereof. The spring is under compression so as to have arm 117, which extends to and bears against the under surface of the pawl set 108, urging the pawl fingers towards the rachet gears100 and against the rachet teeth 102. The spring 116 second arm member 120 extends to bear against an outer surface of a cross portion 908 of member 90.

The member 90 comprises, in addition to the bearing surface 92, arm 90A, and the cross portion 908, a mounting sidewall 90C extending from the crossmember 90B and having a hole defined therein. That hole together with a hole formed in arm 90A are sized for and receive the shaft 115 which forms the pivotal mounting for the member 90 and the pawl set 108. The member 90 also includes an outstanding operating arm 122 which lies in the same plane as arm 90A and is related to that arm at approximately 90.

The arm 122 further includes a lip 125 at the rear underside of a finger 124 which functions as a catch for a bail which causes the pivotal displacement about the shaft 104 of the member 90 and the pawl set 108 to advance the number wheels 95 as will be explained hereinafter.

The counter 60 also includes detent means for detenting the rachet gears 100 and thus the numberfwheels 95. The detent means 130 includes four individual outstanding generally horizontal and parallel detent arms 131 cantilevered from a base portion 132. Each arm has an upper surface of its extreme end 131A shaped in conformity with the surface of the gear portion of the rachet gear 100 to fit between adjacent teeth 101 thereof (FIG. 4). The base portion 132 is of a sufficient lateral extent so as to extend between opposite sidewalls 93, 94 and has specially sized and spaced side surfaces 133 for fitting into conformingly sized and shaped openings 133A in the sidewalls 93, 94. The body portion 133 also serves to add structural rigidity to the counter 60. The detent arms 131 function to detent the rachet gears 100 in any one of 10 angular positions, and consequently to detent the meshing number wheels 95 in 10 positions.

The bracket 118 includes an interiorstud 119 for the attachment of a biasing spring 135. The spring 135 is also affixed to a shaft 137 extending between and affixed to the sidewalls 93 and 94. The spring 135 biases the pivotal bracket and the pawl set 108 retained therein downward. The bracket 118 is limited in its downward motion by a stop 138 afiixed to its outer surface opposite to the stud 119. The stop 138 meets and bears against the edge surface of the sidewall 94 to limit the downward pivotal motion of the bracket 118.

All of the counters 60 positioned at the front of the machine of the cash register 10 are aligned along acommon extended support shaft or tube 140, which extends across the entire line ofthe register 10.

The counters 60 are each positioned on the front of the register l0 and each sits upon a horizontal bar 147 running therealong and affixed to the base 116.

Between the sidewalls 93 and 94 there is a horizontal spacer member 148 which serves to separate the walls and add structural rigidity to the entire counter 60. Spacer 148 is tongue and groove fitted into the rectangular cutout portion 149 of the sidewalls 93 and 94. The member 148 together with the sidewalls 93 and 94 form a frame for mounting the parts of the counters 60.

Each counter 60 further includes a shield 151 positioned between the sidewalls 93 and 94 and covering the front part of the mechanism of the counter 60. The shield 151 has a shape conforming to number wheels 95 along a portion of its circumference and has a window 152 located therein for allowing essentially only one lateral row of numbers to be seen from without the register 10. In addition, the shield 15] includes a track formed by outstanding ears 153 for receiving a slip of cardboard or paper bearing an identifying legend for a particular counter. Both the numbers seen through the window 152 and the identifying paper held by the ears 153 may be seen through the housing window 18. The interior of this window 18 has a plastic pane fitted over on the interior of the wall 14A to prevent the entrance of dust or other foreign matter into the housing 14.

The counter 60 is of the type to advance by l the display shown through the window 152 (for example, from 0000 to 0001) in response to every actuating input, to likewise advance the tens wheels 95 in response to every th advance of the ones" wheel 95 (e.g. 0099 to 0100) and likewise to advance the thousands wheel for every 10th advance of the return them to a home position, such as 0000.

As mentioned above, the counters 60 to the left side of the machine, that is, the bank C of counters 60associated with the shaft 78C, all have a common number wheel shaft 98C while those to the right of the machine, that is, the bank D of counters 60 associated with the shaft 78D have a similar common number wheel shaft 98D.

In accordance with this main aspect of the invention, the shafts 98C for the clerk counters 60 and its corresponding shaft 98D for the department counters 60 each have a longitudinally extending cutout portion or notch 99 formed therein. .Nlso, each of the wheels 95 of the counters 60 includes a hollow portion 97.

Each number wheel 95 has a key unit 160 positioned in its cutout portions 97. The key unit 160 includes circular portion 161 sized ;for fitting within a similarly shaped semicircular cavity of the cutout 97, as best shown in FIG..4, so as to form a pivotal mounting for a key 162 which is part of the unit 160. The key 162 extends from the circular portion 161 of the unit 160 and sits in a portion of the cutout 97 that allows it to be pivotally displaced in an are from the position entering the notch 99 in the shaft 98C as shown in FIG. 4 to a position in which the key 162 is out of the notch 99 and within the cutout portion 97. The key 162 is sized in shape so as to fit within the notch portion of the shaft 98C.

An arcuate spring 164 portion of the unit 160 extends from the outer side of the key 162 to a terminal portion 165. The portion 165 bears against the interior of the cutout portion 97 at a point approximately across the shaft 98C opposite from the key 162 so as to urge the key 162 against the shaft 98C and to urge the key 162 into the cutout portion or notch 99 of the shaft 98C when it is rotated adjacent thereto. When the shaft 98C and the number wheel assume a relative position so that the key 162 may enter the notch 99 the spring 164 urges the key 162 therein. The unit 160 is preferably made of a unitary casting of a plastic material such as nylon having a sufficient coefficient of elasticity so as to retain the proper spring action of the arcuate spring portion 164.

In operation the counter 60 is actuated by the movement of the pawl set 108 upwards against the rachet gear 100. This movement of the pawl set 108 is accomplished by pivotally advancing the member 90 upwardly and forwardly. The member 90 carries with it the pawl set 108 and the bracket 118. At least the longest pawl finger 109 of the pawl fingers 109-112 makes contact with a rachet tooth 102 of the first or ones" rachet gear 100. The movement of the pawl set 108 and the pawl finger 109 advances the rachet gear 100 out of its detented position and into its next detented position (in the clockwise direction in FIG. 4). The gear tooth 101 forces the detentingarms 131 resiliently downward until the next tooth 101 passes over the highest point of the surface 131A. At that time the spring like action of the arm 131 snaps the rachet rotated about the axis 104, the particular number wheel meshing with gear teeth 101, is advanced a single unit. The finger 109 always functions to advance its particular rachet gear wheel 100, and thus the meshing ones" number wheel 95. However, only in one out of ten revolutions does the finger 110 function to advance its rachet gear 100. This occurs when the finger 109 is entered into the cu-tout portion of its rachet gear 100. Then the tens pawl finger makes contact with one of the teeth 102 of rachet tens number wheel 95. One of the 10 rachet positions 102 of the "tens'i'achet gear 100 likewise has a cutout portion 105 so that for every 10th movement of the second rachet wheel, the pawlfinger 110, which is slightly shorter than that of "pawl finger 109, will also enter the cutout portion 105. In this case, both cutout portions of the first and second wheel 105 are aligned with the fingers 109 and 110. The first finger 109 enters the cutout'portion 105 of the ones" rachet gear 100 and the second finger enters the cutout portion 105 of the tens" rachet gear 100 and so that the third finger 111 may make contact with thev tooth 102 of its rachet gear 100. This rachet gear 100? similarly, of course, has a cutout portion 105 therein. When the first three rachet gears 100 have cutout portions 105' aligned so that the fingers 109, 110, 111, respectively may enter therein then, and then only, will the finger 112 make contact with the fourth rachet gear 100 meshing (and its thousands) wheel 95 to advance it. There is no need for the fourth wheel to have a cutout'portion 105. However, for the uniformity of parts, such a rachet gear 100 can be provided here also.

When the number wheels 95 are'advanced by the teeth-101 of the rachet gears 100 (inlthe counterclockwise direction in.

FIG. 4) so as to engage the shaft cutout 99 with the keys 162:

of each of the number wheels 95 of the counters 60 and the clerk or C bank. The zero stop for the wheels is provided by all of the detent arms 109-112 dropping into their respective notches 105.

In operation of the register 10, the particular counters 60- selected to be actuated of the clerk or C bank is selected by the angular positioning of the clerk gear sector 50C. The

movement of the gear sector 50C sets the relative longitudinal position of the rack members 68C which, in turn, rotates the pinion 70C and moves one of the selector discs 82 to a position where one of the cutout'portions 85 is beneath the bearing portion 92 of the member 90. The spring 116 then forces the bearing portion of the member 90 to enter the cutout 8.5.

and this pivots the member 90 to bring the lip of the arm 122 downward and outward from the position shown in FIG. 3. The arm 122 of the member 90 is then lifted by an actuating bail 170. The bail comprises a transverse extending. rectangular sheet of stock metal which has two end legs 171 which are respectively pivoted at 172 at pointsaligned with, but outside of, the shafts 104, as may be best seenin FIG. 2 The bail 170 has aplurality of tongues 174 for fitting under the lip 125 of any of the members 90, that is, moved.

downward and outward by the entry of its arm 90A into the cutout 85 of the selector disc 82. The tongues 174 may be formed by stamping out and down rectangular portions of the.

transverse rectangular sheet of the bail 170.

The actuator bail 170 is pivoted or rocked to-and-fro during each operating cycle of the register 10. As best seen in FIGS. 1. and 2, the bail 170 is pivotally mounted to be driven by a cam 178 affixed to the secondary main shaft 37. The earn 178 has a cam follower roller 180 positioned at one extreme end of an: arm 182 centrally pivotally mounted at a fixed point 183 and biased by a spring 184 affixed to a stud 186 on the lower portion of the arm 183 and to a second stud 187 affixed to the frame of the register 10. The lower portion of the arm 182 is pivotally affixed at 189 to a longitudinally extending link 190. The link 190 extends to and is affixed to the left leg 171 of the actuating bail 170.

As the secondary main drive shaft 37 is actuated during each cycle of the machine, the cam 178 causes the arm 182 to rock about its pivot point 183 so as to first advance the link l90'and therefore move the bail 170 rearward and then to align the tongue 174 beneath the lip 125 of any members 90 that may be caused to move by the positioning of the selector discs 82.

The above described mechanism thus actuates whichever counter 60 of the clerk bank C and also whichever counter 60 of the department D has been selected by the punching of the proper key of, respectively, the clerk keys 12 and the department keys. The particular key punched is represented by the angular positions of the selector discs 82 on the square shaft 76C and/or 76D. In at least the case of the clerk bank C, it is desirable to prevent entering or counting of a transaction that involves no numerical input. This would amount to a no sale transaction. That is, the function of determining how many sales a particular clerk has made may be effectively defeated if the clerk may simply ring up zero amounts and receive a count in his or her counter 60. A mechanism for preventing no sale entrance of unit counts to the various counters 60 is therefore provided.

This mechanism includes a second cam 200 affixed to the secondary main drive shaft 37 for oscillatory motion therewith. A bail 201 comprising a generally C-shaped member (FIG. 2) having two generally vertical side members 201A and 2018 pivotally mounted at their lower ends to a horizontal shaft 203 is provided. The bail 201 includes a generally horizontal cross member 201C connecting the upper ends of the vertical members 201A and 2018. The generally vertical side member 2018 has a cam follower arm 201D extending from its lower end. The arm 201D terminates in a roller 204 for following the cam surface of the cam 200.

The arm 201D further includes a stud 205 which pivotally connects the arm 201D, at a position intermediate the shaft 203 and the roller 204, to a link 207. One end of a biasing spring 208 is also attached to the stud 205. The other end of spring 205 is permanently affixed to a horizontal shaft 210 which is affixed to the frame of the register 10. The spring 208 functions to bias the cam follower and the bail against the cam 200.

The link 207 extends forwardly from the arm 201D, and it is pivotally attached to an upstanding finger 212A located at one side of a motion transferring bracket 212. The bracket 212 has a central portion of a generally C-shape (FIG. 2) which is pivotally affixed at 213 adjacent to finger 212A and it is pivotally affixed at 213 adjacent to finger 212A and 214 to a shaft 215. The bracket 212 has a depending finger 212B at the other side from finger 212A at its pivot 214 side. The finger 2128 is pivotally connected at 220 to a link 221 which extends longitudinally forwardly toward the front of the register to a pivotal connection with an arrestor bail 230 at a pivot point 222. The arrestor bail 230 has a transverse extending planar sheet member 230A and a plurality of spaced cutouts 231 aligned with each of the outstanding disc portions of the selector discs 82. The arrestor bail 230 has two upstanding leg portions 2308 which are pivoted at their ends 240 for pivotal motion thereabouts.

The arrestor bail 230, in response to the movement of the bail 201, is moved between its home position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a second or arresting position in which the cross member 230A is over and adjacent to the selector discs 82 (which are then nested in the cutouts 231) was to intercept the bearing member 92 and to prevent displacement of the member 90. Thus, the actuation of the counters is thereby defeated.

The arrestor bail 230 will be activated in response to the movement of the bail 201. The bails 201 movement, however, is defeated by a stop portion of the numeric gear segments 50. These gear segments 50 each have a stop portion against the portion 250C of the gear segment 50C (FIG. 1) which is pivoted downward whenever any numeric key of that row is depressed. If any number numerical key is depressed the numerical gear segment 50 will be advanced downward so as to intercept the bail 201 and to prevent the cam follower roller 204 from following the cam there in motion. Thus, the arrestor bail 230 will not be advanced forward to overlie and intercept the bearing members 92 and the actuation of the counters 60 may take place as aforedescribed.

However, when no numerical key is depressed, the bail section 201C may move beneath the portion equivalent to the portion 250C of the numeric gear segments 50 thereby to set the arrestor bail 230.

While numerous materials of construction may be employed, it has been found desirable in the specific application of the invention here described to apply molded plastic or nylon parts for the number wheels 95, the keying unit 60, the rachet gear 100, and the pawl set 108, as well as the detent means 130. In general, the other described parts were constructed of metal.

In overall size the counters 60 may be constructed so as to be relatively small and compact. One particular counter constructed and tested according to the present teaching, has a size of approximately 1% inches in height, 1% inches in length and nine-sixteenths of an inch in width. The number wheels 95 were approximately nineteen thirty-seconds of an inch in diameter and three thirty-seconds of an inch in width. The metal parts were in general stamped from stock one thirtysecond of an inch sheets.

The counter has been described above in conjunction with a cash register, an application for which it is uniquely well suited. However, it should be noted that the counter of the present invention is applicable to other uses. The described counter has among its desirable and advantageous features the ability to be adapted to become nonresettable by shaft rotation by the removal of the keying units from the number wheels.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that numerous variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. It is therefore desired by the following claims, to include within the scope of the invention all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of this invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

We claim:

1. A bank of counters comprising:

a common number wheel shaft having a longitudinally extending notchdefined therein; and

a plurality of individual counters aligned in side adjacent array along said common number wheel shaft and each having:

a frame defining bearings for said common number wheel shaft;

a plurality of number wheels having central cylindrical bores for receiving said number wheel shaft, set in side adjacent array between said sidewalls, a socket formed in each of said wheels and having an opening to said wheel bore;

means for detenting each of said wheels in predetermined position including a home position and for rotatively advancing said number wheels in response to an actuating input in accordance with a predetermined rule; and

keying means actively coupled to said shaft and each of said wheels of each of said counters for selectively keying said wheels to said shaft so that said shaft may be rotated to simultaneously return each of said wheels of each of said counters to their home positions, said keying means comprising a pivotally mounted key for each of said wheels and having a generally circular pivoting member mounted in said socket with a portion projectable through said opening, and an arcuate biasing spring attached at one end to said circular pivoting member and bearing against a portion of said wheel to bias said projectable portion through said opening.

2. A cash register comprising:

a housing;

information input means mounted on said housing;

a bank of counters mounted in side by side array within said housing, each counter comprising:

a frame;

a number wheel shaft, which is common to said bank of counters;

a plurality of number wheels mounted for rotation on said shaft;

means mounted in said frame for detenting each of said wheels in predetermined positions, including a home position, and for rotatively advancing said wheels about said shaft in response to said information input means in accordance with a predetermined rule;

keying means actively coupled to said shaft and said wheels for selectively keying said wheels to said shaft so that said shaft may be rotated to simultaneously return said wheels to the home position; and

an arm member for bearing against a selector disc; and

means within said housing coupled to said information input means and said bank of counters for supplying an input to one of said counters in response to the actuation of said information input means, said coupled means including one selector disc for each of said counters, each of said discs having a radial section cut out therefrom and each of said discs being affixed in a spaced relationship along a selector shaft with their cutout portion at different angular positions, said selector shaft being rotatably mounted adjacent to said bank of counters with one of said discs adjacent to each of said counters so that said arm members of each of said counters may bear against said discs and enter the cutout portion thereof when said selector shaft is rotated so as to be bring the cutout portion under said arm.

3. The cash register as defined in claim 2 in which:

said coupled means includes an actuating bail pivotally mounted adjacent to said bank of counters and is cyclicly pivotally driven over said bank, said bail having a plurality of tongues spaced therealong; and

each of said counters of said banks has a lip defining member coupled to said arm member for movement from a normal position free of the tongues of said actuating bail to a selected position, in which one of the tongues of said actuating bail makes contact with the lip defining member to actuate said counter, when said arm member enters the cutout portion of said selector disc.

4. A cash register as defined in claim 3 in which:

said information input means includes a plurality of depressible keys projecting out of said housing and having lower ends which serve as stops when said keys are depressed;

a second bank of counters each defined as said counters of said bank, said second bank of counters being aligned with said bank and positioned adjacent to said second selector shaft; and

said coupled means further includes:

a plurality of actuators mounted within said housing for movement adjacent to said keys and capable of being stopped by the lower ends of said keys;

crossover plates each having a pin outstanding therefrom affixed to each of said actuators;

a plurality of rack members mounted for slidable motion within said housing and each having a yoke formed thereon about one of said pins of said crossover plates, said rack members each having a rack;

a plurality of pinions each mounted for rotation within a plurality of gears each mounted for rotation within said? housing and actively coupled to one of said plurality of pinions;

a plurality of gear segments mounted for pivotal motion and each meshing with two of said plurality of gears of said gear segments having a finger extending therefrom with a pin outstanding from each of the fingers;

a first and second secondary rack member mounted for slidable motion within said housing each having a rack at the forward end thereof and a yoke which fits about one of the pins outstanding from the finger of said two gear segments;

a first and second pinion mounted respectively on said selector shaft and on a second selector shaft and said first and second pinions respectively meshing with the racks at the forward end of said first and second secondary rack members for being driven thereby;

said second selector shaft also having a plurality of selector discs defined as said selector discs of said selector shaft mounted thereon; and

an arrestor bail coupled to the numeric input of the cash register for arresting the actuation of said counters, said arrestor bale having a plurality of cutout portions sized so as to mesh with the selector discs and being pivotally mounted for movement between a home position in which it is clear of said selector discs and an ar resting position in which cutout portions of said are arrestor bail surround said selector discs and prevent said arm members from entering the cutout portions of said selector discs and therefore prevent actuation of said counters.

5. A counter comprising: a frame including two spaced parallel sidewalls, each having circular bearing openings therethrough;

a shaft mounted in said bearing openings in said framesidewalls;

a plurality of wheels mounted for rotation on said shaft by means of a central bore formed in each of said wheels, and said wheels are number wheels each having a rim which has a plurality of equally spaced cutout portions thereabout with an equal number of equally spaced numeric indicia between the adjacent cutout portions;

means mounted in said frame for detenting each of said wheels in predetermined positions including a home position, and for rotatively advancing said wheels about said shaft in accordance with a predetermined rule in response to an actuating input, said detenting means including:

a second shaft affixed between said frame sidewalls parallel to said first shaft and spaced from said first shaft;

a plurality of rachet gears mounted adjacent to one another on said second shaft, each of said rachet gears having a gear section with equally spaced gear teeth outstanding therefrom for meshing with the spaced cutout portions of one of said wheels for aligning and rotating said one of said wheels, and a rachet portion with a plurality of equally spaced ratchet teeth, said ratchet portion having a cutout portion at one of said plurality of ratchet teeth;

a pawl bracket having spaced legs pivotally affixed to said second shaft on either side of said ratchet gears for allowing said bracket to pivot thereabout between a first and a second position;

biasing means for biasing said pawl bracket toward its first position;

a pawl unit pivotally affixed on said pawl bracket between its legs and including a plurality of parallel spaced pawl fingers of successively decreasing extent, said pawl unit being mounted so that said fingers may make contact and move said ratchet gears when said bracket is pivotally displaced about said second shaft from said biasing means for biasing said pawl fingers of pawl unit toward said ratchet gears; and

a detent means comprising a unitary structure having a base portion extending between said sidewalls and a plurality of parallel and spaced resilient detent arms cantilevered from said base portion and terminating in a face section sized to fit between successive teeth of said ratchet gear, and said detent means being affixed to said sidewalls so that said detent arms extend to said ratchet gear to have said face section fit between successive gear teeth thereof and to releasably detent said wheels in a plurality of rotational orientations; and

keying means actively coupled to said first shaft and said wheels for keying said wheels to said first shaft so that said shaft may be rotated to simultaneously return said wheels to the home position, said keying means including a unitary keying unit for fitting in a cavity formed in each of said wheels, said unit including a key pivotally mounted for movement between a first position within said cavity and asecond position projecting out of said cavity into a longitudinal notch formed in said first shaft, said keying unit further including an arcuate spring for biasing said key toward said first shaft and said shaft notch, and said key being so shaped as to permit normal advancing motions of said wheels about said first shaft but to prevent, once said key has entered said notch, relative motion in the other direction. 6. The counter as defined in claim 5 in which: said wheels keying means cavity is formed in one side of each wheel opening therefrom to facilitate the mounting of said keying unit, said cavity also opening into the shaft receiving central bore of said wheel at one arc segment thereof to allow the key to enter said notch of said first shaft, and said cavity extending about the central bore to form a shoulder at a point generally on the opposite side of central bore from said one arc segment.

7. The counter as defined in claim 6 in which: the counter operates in accordance with the additive rule to display successive base 10 numbers, from a home position of0000 to 9999;

said wheels are four in number and each have ten numeric indicia: 0, 1,2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8 and 9 equally spaced about their rims, each of said indicia being positioned between two of the cutout portions meshing with said ratchet gears;

said ratchet gears are four in number;

said pawl unit includes only four pawl fingers;

said first shaft is generally circular in cross section with said notch defined therein extending longitudinally therealong between said sidewalls;

said unitary keying unit is formed of nylon and said arcuate spring extends from said shoulder upon which it bears to said key; and

a shield defining a window is mounted on and between said sidewalls adjacent to said number wheels so as to substantially mask all but one numeric indicia of each wheel. 

